Aaron Vehling

The Blugold women’s hockey team made history this past weekend when they beat the UW-Superior Yellowjackets for the first time in Eau Claire’s three year existence.

The win did not come easy, however. Tied at 1-1 going into the third period, the game looked as if it could go either way.

Midway through the third period, Superior jumped out to a 2-1 lead. Eau Claire countered the attack when freshman Amanda Schultz scored her second goal of the game. The Blugolds took the lead for good after the Schultz goal via a freshman Claire Parda goal.

Sophomore Christina Hubert added some insurance for the women shortly after that when she took a nice pass from senior captain Jen Mead, and netted a breakaway goal. The goal gave the ‘Golds a 4-2 lead.

Superior added a last minute goal, but it was too little too late.

“It’s been a long time coming,” coach Mike Collins said. “Superior has always had strong teams.”

Freshman goalie Sara Steinhoff recorded the win for the Blugolds between the pipes Saturday afternoon at Hobbs as she stopped 24 of the 27 Yellowjacket shots she faced.

Collins said that going into the third period tied, the game became a battle of twenty minutes. “You win the period, you win the game,” he said to his troops during the second intermission.

Schultz said she was impressed with the work ethic that her teammates put forth in the win. The women have struggled all season long in the final period so the win is that much more sweet, she said.

“It’s very exciting,” Schultz said. “I think that the win brought everyone together much more.”

The Blugolds are now 6-10-2 overall and 1-8-1 in NCHA play. Superior still sits atop Eau Claire in the standings with a 8-10-1 overall record and a 4-6-0 NCHA record.

With only six games left in the regular season, the Blugolds have their sights set on making the playoffs. In order for the women to make it to the postseason they have to win at least four of the next six games and hope that Superior goes on a losing streak, Collins said.

“We definitely got our backs against the wall,” Collins said. “There is added pressure for sure.”

Eau Claire will begin their playoff run at 7:05 p.m. Friday with a face off against UW-River Falls Falcons at Hobbs Arena.

“River Falls is as good as anyone in the league,” Collins said.

Schultz agreed.

“It’s going to be a battle.”